Boxing Day shopping advice from Calgary police

Calgary police are keeping the holiday safety tips going by providing safe shopping advice for Boxing Day.

“Getting ready to shop for #BoxingDay? Before you do, here are some helpful tips to make sure you get the best deal & none of the scam,” a post on X reads.

Tips include keeping your identification and personal belongings close to you and carrying phones and wallets in inside pockets rather than back pockets.

After heading to the mall or local shopping centre, police recommend parking in well-lit areas, and not keeping any valuables in your vehicle.

“If you need to make trips in and out of the store to drop off packages, keep your packages out of sight,” they said in a news release.

“If you will be in the mall for a long time, consider moving your car to different places in the parking lot to deter thieves who may be looking for cars left unattended for a long time.”

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When it comes to online shopping, police say not to provide information like birthdates, addresses, full names, and other personal details to strangers online. If you need to meet someone for an online purchase, thoroughly inspect the product before exchanging money, and if possible, bring a friend or family member with you.

They also say to keep an eye out for “common red flags”, which include missing email addresses, websites, links or spelling errors in messages, suspicious attachments or links, urgent requests with threats of legal action, payment requests in the form of pre-paid gift cards, wire transfers or other forms of non-secure payment.

Officers say to never commit to anything under pressure, including if it requires a large sum of money up front or a long-term contract.

“Use common sense. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” police said.

Lastly, when it comes to receiving packages, ways to prevent theft are by having security cameras installed, getting a locked mailbox or delivery box, having a smart doorbell, and getting to know those who deliver packages.

Officers also say that picking up the package in person is a way to prevent packages from being swiped at the door.

More tips on crime prevention from CPS can be found online here.

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